Wichita eagle., 1887-12-29
ROOMS FOR BACHELORS.
MEN IN SINGLE BLESSEONESS WHO
10 THEIR OWN HOUSEWORK.
Light Housekeeping Where Women Are
Observation-Disclosures, Actors, Mechanics
and Clerks Who Cook Their Own Meals.
A Peep at the Rooms.

Ilt SdU 6lGu dCDDl WIZ vas NdIlltle IOI d
date that never came put all doubts at
rest by affirming that the advertisement
meant just what it said.
''There is more than one house in New
York" he said. where single men rent
rooms and do their own housekeeping,
cooking, making beds, sweeping, and so
on, and a nice life it is if a man is built
that way. | am proud TO say that while
/ was down on my luck l occupied an
alcOve room in this house mentioned in
the advertisement. paid So week and
lived for 50 more. \ legacy left 10 me
by my aunt has put higher living in my
power, and | left my bachelor room with
regret. The life was pleasant, and after
! became bit expert at cooking ] assure
you that | cooked many dainty with all
the skill of a French chef.
The writer visited the house where the
furnished rooms for housekeeping for gen
tieraen were located. The ring at the bell
was answered by tidy Irish girl, who
said that they had one room vacant. The
iandlady was summoned and showed the
reporter up two flights to a back room.
This is TO rent with al the nccessaries
for light housekeeping. a closet in the
hall is the place for your coal and your
green groceries and an ice box for your
meat. The price is 81 per week -
HOME CoNvEHIENCEs
The room was about fourteen feet
square. It contained folding bed, a
cheap chiffonniere, on which were two tea
cups and saucers of fanciful pattern. In
the different compartments Were other
dishes of stoneware and glass. A cup
board stood at the right of the mantel in
which were two tablccloths, four napkins,
quilt and WOODEN blanket, and in q
lower compartment an iron pot, spider
and two stew pans. The stove was a No.
;, with two covers. and was polished
brightly. \ wardrobe. sofa, easy chair,
two dining chairs and a round table We're
placed about the room in convenient posi-
lions.
You don't rent rooms 10 women re
marked the reporter.
NO, indeed: | don't want any women
about my house. They are more trouble
than they are worth. fused to rent rooms
to women, but they found fault with
everything. They washed their clothes III
the bathroom and invaded the kitchen at
all times in the day 10 borrow fatirOns.
! have housefui Of gentlemen who cook,
eat and sleep here, and ! never hear
word Of complaint and seldom see them,
only when they pay their rent"
"What class of men do You have?n
Il have with ne now a reporter, an
actor, a street car conductor, a florist, an
engineer on the Elevated railroad, a book
keeper, two clerks who cook together, and
a policeman. "
At this point the lady was informed OF
the object of the reporters visit, and she
sat down to enlighten him further.
II am an English woman, she said,
'Eand kept lodgings in London before com
ing 70 New York There it is common
thing for men TO do their own housekeep-
ing. ! came TO New York as a waiting
maid TO an English actress. Liking the
city | concluded 10 stop here, and con-
ceived the idea, OF renting rooms to gentle
men only. At first | did not meet with
success, but now | can rent all OF my
rooms. | pay 800 a month for this
house l have eight rooms that bring me
in $40. There is $40 profit on nay rent.
Then | get my living from my rO0mers.
You see, it's this way. A woman nine
times ont Of ten will throw away her
waste, but a man won't. AIy rooms give
me more than | can eat-a bunch of Gel
cry and other green stuff meat and fruit
that VII sn0il. and of which they had
purchased too much. Ny servant girl
costs me IS n month only. but she doesn't
do anything but laundry work and my
cooking. Ny roOmers make their own
beds, and very handy they are at it.
THROUGH THE ROOMS.
The lady then took the reporter through
the house. Only one room was untidy,
and that was the actors Clay pipes and
tobacco were scattered over the mautel;
shoes, slippers and clothing were thrown
about the room. while on the bed. slOveniy
made up, was a pile Of manuscript and
books
"T'his man is an actor of good parts"
explained the lady. but he is slOucET
about his room. Quite different is the
next room that is occupied by the engi-
neer''
This room was neatness personiiied.
The bed was IS smooth as could he. the
floor was swept clean, and the tin pans
were rs bright as the braSses or his engine
probably were \ small library was suS-
pended GU Il shelf containing books on
railroadinG. dictionary and Shakespeare.
Other rooms visited showed the same
neatness, but each had some character
iStic Of the occupant by way Of ornament.
The policeman had two clubs crossed over
his mantel with r pair Of boxing gloves
between them. The clerks room was
fixed up with plush holders for brushes
and papers. with the photographs of noted
actresses stuck here and there on the
walls. \ pile of poker chips and a pack
OF cards were most conspicuous IN the
bookkeeper's room, hut the beds were
well made and the floors and dishes clean.
These men. said the lady. are up
early, get their breakfast, wash their
dishes. dress for business and are off. all
or them before s o'clock. They return
from ! to at night, get their supper and
go out again. They are quiet ana better
tenants than any l ever had -
rs poverty the cause OF their living in
this way2"
"0h, no I guess not. You know the
old saving that one half the world doesn't
know now the other half lives. | saw the
bookkeeper'S salary envelope one week
and it had $50 marked on il ! am sure
thai al of my odCors except The actor get
good salaries. He sometimes doesn't set
any: but / let him stop, Tor he pays when
he can.
At this junctUre neatly dressed gen
tleman came in and passed up The stairs.
1t was the hookkeeTer, and the reporter
recognized him as & familiar sight in the
hotel rotundas, good fellow all around,
and supposed 10 live at fashionable
boarding house up town.
The shopping Tor the roemerS was done
by the girl. who bought whatever the
ledger wished, taking his book 10 the store
and entering each article Of provision
purchase. Ear which the men paid weekly.
New York Evening Sun.